“Senika, did that boy threaten you by any chance?”
“…Huh?”
The seriousness in Hale’s voice pierced my ears. I quickly shook off my thoughts and lifted my head.
His eyes burned with a mix of anger and worry. That was unmistakably the look someone gets just before completely misunderstanding something.
Panicked, I shook my head and hands vehemently.
“No! He didn’t do anything to me! Really!”
But it was like my words didn’t register, his eyes burned even hotter.
Taming a doting father really isn’t easy. It’s already been almost a month since I started living here, but the whole father-daughter relationship is still tricky.
Maybe it’s because I’ve never experienced anything like it before? I’ve managed to adjust to life here somehow, but every time Hale overreacts like this, I still have no idea how to handle it.
“It’s really true…”
“I believe you.”
Finally, when I muttered in a slightly tearful voice, Hale responded, calming his anger with a sigh.
He was probably trying to believe me, even if I had been lying but I wasn’t.
Suddenly, Hale’s soft and cloud-like pheromones wrapped around my body.
“Senika, to be honest, I’m not sure what you’re thinking right now.”
“…”
“But one thing I can say for sure. My daughter, the only one to inherit my name, is you and only you.”
He held me even tighter than before. I could feel in every fiber of my being that he wanted to give me reassurance.
Since he had no way of knowing exactly what I was thinking, this was his way of soothing the anxiety he sensed in me.
“So don’t be afraid.”
So reliable. His words made it clear. No matter what I did, he’d be on my side.
Well, even if Hale had another child somewhere, I’d be okay with that. I’m sure he’d still love me. I really believe that but what I’m worried about is… that I might become a weakness to the person who loves me. Because of me, Hale might get hurt.
I know Hale is the strongest dragon in this world, but the deeper the weakness, the easier it is to exploit.
So, to avoid becoming his weakness or to be strong enough to protect myself even if I am—
“Mm. I believe in you, Dad.”
—I have to live with everything I’ve got.
***
Late at night, just as the moonlight streaming through the window was briefly hidden by clouds.
Knock knock—
Theo stepped into Hale’s office. His gaze briefly landed on Senika, fast asleep on the sofa, before quickly shifting away.
He silently approached Hale.
“You called, my lord.”
“I thought it was about time I checked your homework.”
At Hale’s cold and cutting tone, Theo involuntarily flinched. Just the voice alone carried an oppressive force that could not be taken lightly.
Theo tensed up at Hale’s unfamiliar mood.
“…Actually, I was planning to come to you first thing in the morning to report on that.”
“Is that so?”
Gulp—
He swallowed hard from the tension with sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.
He took a deep breath. He was about to speak when the clouds covering the moon drifted away, and light poured down on Hale’s head.
“That information you brought me…”
Theo blinked up at the sudden burst of light.
“I hope I like it.”
Hale wore a smile tinged with a quiet menace.
Theo pressed his lips together and placed the file in his hand on the desk. Hale’s gaze moved to the papers.
“Explain.”
Rather than read it himself, Hale wanted Theo to talk.
Someone’s clearly pissed him off pretty badly.
Theo didn’t dare say it out loud but thought it as he cleared his throat.
He bowed slightly, knowing Hale wouldn’t like what he was about to hear.
“I’m terribly sorry, but whoever cleaned this up did an exceptional job. We haven’t found much yet. I’m ashamed to face you, my lord.”
“You’re right to be.”
A frosty glint touched Hale’s eyes as he curled his lips upward.
It wasn’t a sneer—more of a bitter smile that said, I figured as much.
“So? The point?”
“We’re tracking the trail as best we can… So far, all we’ve learned is that the temple has been colluding with the empress.”
At the mention of the temple, the smile vanished from Hale’s face. He stood abruptly, pale blue pheromones rising around him like crashing waves.
The sudden surge of killing intent made Theo go pale with cold. He quickly grabbed Hale’s arm.
“My lord! Please don’t. It’s not the time yet!”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s still circumstantial evidence. We don’t have proof.”
“…”
“If you march straight into the temple now, the whole clan could be in danger. You know that better than anyone!”
At Theo’s pleading, the wave of bloodlust ebbed. Seizing the moment, Theo went for the finishing blow.
He knew Hale’s weak spots well, it wasn’t hard.
“Think of your people, my lord. Please, stay calm for their sake.”
Since Hale had taken over the Evienne clan, he’d created a different atmosphere than any other house.
They were more like a real family, close-knit and loyal, if not bound by blood.
Of course, not all elders liked it but they didn’t voice it. It wasn’t bad, just uncomfortable.
In some ways, it made it easier to identify those who stood against Hale.
Because of that, Hale had long been aware of which elders were moving against him. He simply tolerated them because of Erilyn’s death.
“We both know the clan isn’t ready to go to war with the temple. Let’s not do something reckless.”
But Hale couldn’t keep ignoring things forever. He didn’t want to lose another loved one.
Facing Theo’s pleading eyes, Hale closed his own.
Still, emotions and memories roared up from deep within.
He thought of the elders and clan members. Those who had fought beside him through hardship and grief. Bonds not of blood, but of time and loyalty.
Even Richt, the one he’d long ignored, that tolerance had come from all those tangled emotions.
“…Haah.”
But now that he had the most precious person in the world, everything had changed.
He could no longer risk everything for pride.
He brushed back his bangs with a heavy sigh.
He acknowledged it and his emotions had gotten ahead of his reason.
But that didn’t mean he could let the temple go unpunished. If they were tied to the past, he had to know.
“…We need solid evidence.”
“I agree.”
“Something stronger than that hair.”
“Yes. A single strand of hair can be denied. But if we get proof they can’t talk their way out of…”
Hale nodded. Theo let out a small sigh of relief.
Hale sank back into his plush chair, fingers twitching as if popping bubbles in the air. His lips curled into a dark grin.
“Theo.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, I don’t think you are. I should give you some more work.”
Theo had answered too quickly and of course, it didn’t work. Hale responded just as expected.
Theo squeezed his eyes shut.
Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped him from going to the temple…
“You have a problem with that?”
“I do, but how could I refuse? It’s an order from the lord of the house.”
The words sounded loyal, but Theo’s tone and face showed the opposite. He was clearly annoyed.
“I’ll give you plenty of vacation days.”
Hale tried to placate him, but Theo was no longer buying it.
“I’m honestly grateful Miss Senika didn’t inherit your explosive temper.”
Ignoring him, Hale got to the point.
“We need to dig into the second prince.”
“Huh? But why him…”
“Frankly, I’m not sure myself.”
His eyes wandered to Senika, still dreaming on the couch, and without looking away, he continued.
“I think he said something unnecessary to Senika.”
“The second prince approached her? But how? How did royalty enter the estate without your permission?”
Theo’s sharp question hit a spot Hale had overlooked, he’d been too focused on Senika.
Outwardly, he didn’t flinch. Inwardly, though, he winced. He couldn’t forget his duty as head of the clan.
“I made a foolish mistake. Though… it did move up the timetable I was hoping for.”
Hale tried to sound light, but the implication ran deep.
“…That’s not the worst thing, I guess.”
“Still, my lord, in my opinion, it makes sense to suspect the first prince. But the second prince? I doubt he and the empress are connected.”
“I agree. Even commoners know the empress can’t stand him.”
“Then—”
“Still, no harm in confirming.”
Hale cut Theo off before he could refuse. They knew each other too well.
Theo didn’t hide his frustration.
More work. More travel. More reports… When will I even catch up on all the paperwork?
He shook his head violently.
Theo had always had a kind of compulsive pride in completing his own work. But right now, even he had to admit he wanted to let go. He might drop dead if this kept up.
“You can go.”
Now that everything was said and done, Hale dismissed him.
Theo wasted no time heading for the door.
Just as his hand touched the knob—
“Oh, right.”
He froze.
Experience told him that whenever Hale stopped him at the last second…
“Next time you report to me, you’d better bring something worth my time.”
It was less of a warning and more of a veiled threat. Just like now.
“If not, you can always bring me a head.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Theo nodded begrudgingly.
When the person threatening you is your clan lord, there’s not much you can do.
The only thing you can do is accept it and try to keep your sanity intact.
